The Third Man

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The Third Man, Directed by Carol Reed in 1949, this film tells the story of an American in post WWII Vienna as he follows the trail of his childhood friend’s mysterious death.

Annie:

I’m thinking. Um, this movie was pretty entertaining. This is the closest thing to a modern thriller that we’ve seen so far and it was nice to have something quicker paced after the last few which were a bit slower.

Rating: 7/10

Paul:

Great film. This is one of my favourites. The Third Man is not only a great example of great storytelling, but it’s also such a great example of wonderful cinematography, acting and music.

This film transports you to post WWII Vienna, the politics, the people, and the intrigue. It’s a crime mystery tied into a film noir, but at it’s heart is a story of exploitation, and the loss of humanity.

I’m always surprised at how well this film holds up. It was made in 1949, yet the pace & style feel so fresh and new. This film moves with a lightness that eludes some of the earlier pieces we’ve seen. Carol Reed is a true master of his craft, and he seems to balance all of the elements of this film so effortlessly.

If you’d like to see one of the greatest films of all time, you have to watch The Third Man.

Rating: 10/10

Spring in a Small Town

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Spring in a Small Town, Directed by Fei Mu in 1948, this film tells the story of a once prosperous family living in a ruined compound following the Sino-Japanese war.

Annie:

Tough one. Another tough one. While the storyline is intriguing, the pace is a bit too slow to keep the viewer’s attention.

Rating: 4/10

Paul:

This was a hard one to sit through. Again, I’m not saying it was necessarily a bad film, I just had a hard time getting into it.

That being said, Fei Mu does a great job capturing a particular moment in time, and takes real care getting to know the characters in this small town. The film is full of heartbreak, loss and longing. Watching this film transports you to rural China in the late 1940s, and gives you a real sense for what life was like for those living through that time.

If you’d like to see a great work of early Chinese cinema, you need to see ‘Spring in a Small town’.

Rating: 4/10

Bicycle Thieves

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Bicycle Thieves, Directed by Vittorio De Sica in 1948, this film follows the story of a poor father searching post-World War II Rome for his stolen bicycle.

Annie:

This is a tough movie. It’s a tough one to watch, this one. Heartbreaking story of a life of poverty in Italy.

Rating: 7/10

Paul:

This is a great film. It’s tough to watch, but ultimately rewarding.

De Sica does an incredible job depicting not only the struggle of a father in post WWII Rome, but also depicting the city itself. Rome seems to be a character in this film, with it’s cobblestone streets, rowdy cafes, and bustling avenues.

It’s a pleasure to watch every time, even though the story breaks your heart.

The actors do a wonderful job portraying a life on the brink, and it really weaves a powerful tale of the lengths a parent will go to in order to survive, and the moral compass some children are capable of maintaining even in the toughest of times.

If you want to see a great example of Italian neorealism, you have to watch Bicycle Thieves.

Rating: 9/10

It’s a Wonderful Life

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It’s a Wonderful Life, Directed by Frank Capra in 1946, this film tells the story of George Bailey, a man who has given up his dreams in order to help others, and whose imminent suicide on Christmas Eve brings about the intervention of his guardian angel, Clarence Odbody.

Annie:

This is a christmas classic. Interesting, um..I don’t know. Has a bit of a darker twist, but like all christmas classics, it turns out okay in the end.

Rating: 9/10

Paul:

Wow. What an amazing film. This one gets me every time. The sets, the cast, the music, the direction. And the story.

Even though I know where it’s headed, the story pulls me in every time. The ups and the downs are as fresh now as when I first saw this film. It’s truly a classic, and arguably one of the greatest films ever made.

James Stewart plays one of the most iconic roles of his career, and Frank Capra somehow makes this crazy story leap off the screen, and somehow straight into the heart.

If you want to see one of the greatest films ever made, you have to watch ‘It’s a wonderful life’.

Rating: 10/10

Meet Me in St. Louis

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Meet Me in St. Louis, directed by Vincente Minnelli in 1944, tells the story of an American family living in St. Louis at the time of the Worlds Fair in 1904.

Annie:

This is a classic movie that I’ve never seen before. It was interesting that I knew most of the songs, particularly ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’, which I never knew was from this film. Right, isn’t that all what we were thinking about?

Rating: 6/10

Paul:

This film is widely regarded as one of the great musical films. And it does have some great music. Several of the songs in the film went on to become massive hits, and we still sing them today.

The film is also wonderfully rich in colour and set design. You can tell a great team was behind this film, and they were all working at the top of their game.

I think my favourite character would have to be Tootie, the youngest daughter. She is so morbid, crass and hilarious, and you never know what she’s going to say or do next.

But beyond a few good tunes, a rich atmosphere, and a funny character or two, this film didn’t really pull me in. As much as I wanted it to, I had a hard time connecting with this one.

It is certainly a step forward for the big budget studio picture. But I wouldn’t say it’s one of my favourite films.

If you like musicals, and you like old studio films, you should definitely watch Meet Me in St. Louis.

Rating: 6/10